The Election Commission of India has implemented its decision to completely de-link the Special Intensive Revision declaration from the online Form 6 application across all states. Updated on the ECINet portal between 4 and 5 November following an October 26 Supreme Court affidavit, the change extends even to regions where electoral revisions remain underway. Applicants seeking inclusion in electoral rolls—including during fresh drives for youngsters turning 18 in 2027—will now submit this declaration separately instead of completing it inside the primary application form.

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Separation of voter declaration form

The separation follows objections raised by Election Commissioners Vivek Joshi in May and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu in August, who described the mandatory declaration as unauthorised. Previously, Form 6 required new applicants to list relatives present in earlier revision rolls. This created confusion for electors deleted from draft rolls who feared that applying via Form 6 could trigger prosecution for false statements under the Representation of the People Act. On 3 November, the poll body clarified that previously registered electors omitted from draft rolls may safely submit Form 6. Meanwhile, opposition parties under the INDIA bloc, led by Rahul Gandhi, have held demonstrations demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over voter deletion concerns.

Overhaul of internal procedures and field powers

The de-linking forms part of broader administrative course corrections made over the past five weeks following internal friction. Commission agendas and meeting minutes are now formally issued, while foreign trips by officers require prior Commission approval. Proposed IT modules under the technology division must undergo scrutiny by an officer committee before submission to the Commission. Additionally, a committee formed on 14 October, featuring experts from IIT Bombay and IISc Bengaluru, is auditing ECINet for legal compliance. Local field officers have also regained decision-making powers, allowing booth level officers to collect documents at voters' homes and electoral registration officers to resolve logical discrepancies independently. Separately, the Commission facilitated the inclusion of 88 cleared electors in Goa and clarified in court that West Bengal appeal filings by staff remain legally valid.